Raynors HCA 2014-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/6/2014
War-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. large folio, written by Corp. George P. Jarvis [WIA Perryville, Ky., Oct. 8, 1862], (signed G. P. Jarvis), Co. C, 3rd Ohio Vols., Bowling Green, Ky., Feb. 18, 1862, in part: "…we have been marching and running around so much that I have not had time to write…we will…start for Nashville tomorrow…the report here is that Bowling Green is taken and…it is true. I am writing this letter in one of the principle houses in the town. It was a glorious but bloodless victory and gives us possession of one of the strongholds of this state…it is the Gibralter of Kentucky. The Rebels had at one time not less than 75,000 men here…Feb. 19…we started from Bacon Creek…and over Green River the same day and encamped on the Munfordsville battle ground…we marched 21 miles…and expected to see the enemy in the shape of Hindman's Legion who we supposed was encamped near. We did not come up to his encampment till just at night and…found he had left…the day before for Bowling Green in a terrible hurry…it was a perfect panic…next day started on a forced march after him. The 8th Brigade was ahead and the 17th to which we belong was next with Lomis' Battery and the 4th Ohio Cavalry in the extreme front. We…got to within about 12 or 15 miles of their fortifications and…halted to give Gen. Mitchell a chance to go ahead and reconnoiter…we had been there about three hours when here came a horseman, his horse all foam, with the intelligence that the enemy had made a sortie and were engaging the 8th Brigade…we could hear the rapid firing of cannon and could see the huge volumes of smoke as though the whole town was on fire…we were not long in getting ready to go…there was a battery of artillery just behind our Regt and they were ordered forward to protect Lomis…when they started over the rough pike they made noise enough to scare all the Rebels in Ky. The battery was a miserable affair…the men had not taken sufficient care of their guns and carriages. They would go about a quarter of a mile and off would go a wheel with the horses at full run…when the wheel went off, away would go the men into the mud heels over head to the great risk of their lives and the infinite amusement of the boys…we got to Bowling Green just at dark and found everything still and quiet. The enemy had retreated and the firing we had heard was made by Lomis to prevent their burring the town. The only Rebel troops that was left…when our advance arrived was two Regts of Texan Rangers and Hindman's Legion making in all about 5 or 6,000 men…as soon as we commenced firing on their train to stop them from getting their stores away. They fell into a perfect panic and started off in every direction. First…setting fire to the principle part of their warehouses who they destroyed with the engine house depot. There was some ten or twelve engines…damaged by the fire. They destroyed hundreds of tons of provisions…we saved enough to last our division…two months. There was not a single man killed during the whole action. Lomis did fire on the men. He was firing on the locomotive to stop the train in which he succeeded. I found quite a number of old friends in town…and look as natural as ever. They all send love to you…". The original transmittal cover is included marked "Due 3" with manuscript cancelation, "Bowling Green, Ky. Feb. 20, 1862."
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